Any advice on how to play the empire?

[Redassassin]

I seem to have a hard time playing the empire. Their units get destroyed by the basic troops of most factions and the only thing keeping me alive is the artillery. My issue is that the empire economy sucks and I don't know how to maintain my troops without going bankrupt. Any advice on how I'm supposed to play this faction?
If it helps I usually both dwarf factions, greenskins and grand cathay.

[dyne2alex]

which empire leader are you playing? If you're having money problems, you could play balthezar gelt. Every 3 turns he can turn his unique currency into 3500 gold. Great in the early game. He also starts off in Cathay can you can choose to stay there if you're getting overwhelmed by the monster mash that is the empire. Karl's just generally great but is a bit demanding at the start. Elspeth is a bit hard at the start too because of a lack of melee heroes but anti vamp corruption trait helps a bit later when you're stomping vlad out.

Around what turns do you start having money issues? 0-20? near 50? Early game shouldn't be too bad, just start investing in some money buildings and get the capital city to tier 3 for an upgraded harbor and go win some wars. You should mostly focus on building up your main starting province with the spare $ rather than spreading your $ and forces thin. If you don't invest in outer territory, you don't need to care too much if the AI take them since you lose little aside from public order. Can also gift cities back to elector counts if you don't want to deal with managing them yourself Also, taking the Marionberg province if a non empire faction took it over is a good idea if you can, since the elector state troop you get from that province ensures that you'll never lose from your enemies doing an elite infantry spam (since you don't have amazing frontline yourself). It's also a rich province so you can focus on that too in the midgame with $

[Redassassin]

Originally posted by dyne2alex:

which empire leader are you playing? If you're having money problems, you could play balthezar gelt. Every 3 turns he can turn his unique currency into 3500 gold. Great in the early game. He also starts off in Cathay can you can choose to stay there if you're getting overwhelmed by the monster mash that is the empire. Karl's just generally great but is a bit demanding at the start. Elspeth is a bit hard at the start too because of a lack of melee heroes but anti vamp corruption trait helps a bit later when you're stomping vlad out.

Around what turns do you start having money issues? 0-20? near 50? Early game shouldn't be too bad, just start investing in some money buildings and get the capital city to tier 3 for an upgraded harbor and go win some wars. You should mostly focus on building up your main starting province with the spare $ rather than spreading your $ and forces thin. If you don't invest in outer territory, you don't need to care too much if the AI take them since you lose little aside from public order. Can also gift cities back to elector counts if you don't want to deal with managing them yourself Also, taking the Marionberg province if a non empire faction took it over is a good idea if you can, since the elector state troop you get from that province ensures that you'll never lose from your enemies doing an elite infantry spam (since you don't have amazing frontline yourself). It's also a rich province so you can focus on that too in the midgame with $

Was playing the new character as I had never played the empire and had just got ToD. It was around turn 30 that my economy began to crash.
I just started a new game as gelt and it's way easier. Definitely should have started with him.

[Darklight]

What is your army composition and who are you fighting against? The Empire's economy is actually pretty decent and they have some fairly good cost effective units.

[Redassassin]

Originally posted by Darklight:

What is your army composition and who are you fighting against? The Empire's economy is actually pretty decent and they have some fairly good cost effective units.

Some nearby ogres declared war on me and were kicking my ass even tho I had anti large spearmen and gunners. I also had morters but that wasn't enough to combat them.

[Darklight]

Originally posted by Redassassin:

Some nearby ogres declared war on me and were kicking my ass even tho I had anti large spearmen and gunners. I also had morters but that wasn't enough to combat them.

Motors don't have much effect on ogres. Low-tier spearmen won't last long against ogres regardless of anti-large. Your only real tool was the gunners which I don't know how many you had and if the blockers aren't holding than you got ogres in your only damage dealers.

They are your best early game damage dealer and are very cost effective. Spread them out in a checker formation so if they get through whatever blockers you have than at least some of your gunners are still dishing out damage. Make sure the gunners are on guard so they can still shoot and won't chase units.

Outriders are also really good and cost effective, especially against Vampire Counts but they would also work on Ogres for the most part. Get damage in and kite a portion of them away from your main army.

Halberds would be more effective at blocking ogres or most things in general. If you can't grab them yet than resort to putting heroes in your army against ogres. If you can grab a Warrior Priest to buff your frontline even better. You can also grab a light wizard to net them before they charge your frontline so your gunners can shoot them.

[Redassassin]

Originally posted by Darklight:

Originally posted by Redassassin:

Some nearby ogres declared war on me and were kicking my ass even tho I had anti large spearmen and gunners. I also had morters but that wasn't enough to combat them.

Motors don't have much effect on ogres. Low-tier spearmen won't last long against ogres regardless of anti-large. Your only real tool was the gunners which I don't know how many you had and if the blockers aren't holding than you got ogres in your only damage dealers.

They are your best early game damage dealer and are very cost effective. Spread them out in a checker formation so if they get through whatever blockers you have than at least some of your gunners are still dishing out damage. Make sure the gunners are on guard so they can still shoot and won't chase units.

Outriders are also really good and cost effective, especially against Vampire Counts but they would also work on Ogres for the most part. Get early damage in, kite a portion of them away from your main army.

I'll have to remember this the next time I play in that region as the empire. I just started a new game as gelt, as someone above suggested I start with him.